Drugs strategy and injection centres
Deputy Micheál Martin presses for action on the drugs scourge, including injection centres and a published strategy. The Taoiseach says the national drugs strategy is already in place and legislation for injection centres is done, with planning permission still needed.
There are a number of commitments in the programme for Government on tackling the drug scourge in our society. One involves the introduction of injection centres in Dublin, and the other relates to the publication of a drugs strategy. Everyone in this House would unite around the common cause to tackle this issue because it has destroyed many families and communities, particularly those who have become addicted, and also led to a spiral in gangland crime.
The Government needs a cohesive, concerted plan on how to tackle the increased availability and use of heroin and other illicit drugs across cities and also in towns in rural Ireland. Anyone who read this morning's Irish Examiner would be aware of the harrowing account of the Kidney family in Bandon, County Cork, in which Mrs. Kidney tells the story of losing her three sons through heroin addiction over the past three years. It was shocking and deeply sad for the family but also revealing in terms of the prevalence of the heroin scourge the length and breadth of the country.
There is a need to go back to the original initiatives taken in the late 1990s and early 2000s with local drugs task forces, which worked on a community integrated basis to deal with the issue in all its aspects and at all levels. I ask the Taoiseach to indicate to me the actions that have been taken following the publication of the national drugs strategy in that regard.
Comment on this
It is important to say first that the national drugs strategy has been produced. I launched it with the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, only a few months ago. The Minister reports on a quarterly basis as to the particular actions that have been completed, the ones that are in train and those yet to be commenced.
There is specific mention of injection centres. The legislation on that is done and there will need to be planning permission for a centre. I understand three centres have been proposed but I am not sure which one will be selected. The Minister will set up an independent group to choose one and it will need planning permission. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to discuss drugs and drugs-related issues last week. In addition to that, she has appointed a working group to consider decriminalisation, which is one of the proposals in the drugs strategy.